A lot of customers come in asking for new releases in picture books, especially if they are buying presents and are trying to avoid getting something the child already has. Although I’ve been in the industry for years, keeping up with ‘what’s new in picture books’ is a Sisyphean task. Most people are familiar with the classics; new books don’t stay on the radar for very long; the competition is fierce; and only very few picture books gain a lasting status.

We do have a new book in our Fall window that surprised me, though. Initially I didn’t pay much attention to Those Darn Squirrels Fly South, written by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri, but when I finally got around to reading it, I laughed several times (Clarion, $16.99). Ostensibly about migration, as evident from the title, this books is also about friendship and aerodynamics. The illustrations excellently undercut the text in clever and snort-worthy ways. Salmieri has given each of the squirrels a delightful, independent personality, but they also function as a cohesive collective and can perform actions (giving a hug) as a singular unit. The old man’s fist shaking (those darn squirrels!) is tempered with their obvious affection for him (cf. the hug) and I look forward to seeing more of their (mis)adventures.

Today’s category is rather general, because this recommended series covers a lot of topics. Turtleback Books, of HarperCollins, publishes a series of books entitled Let’s Read and Find Out – Science ($5.99), which are edited according to levels. The levels are as much about cognitive development as reading level. Level 1 includes titles such as Clouds, From Seed to Pumpkin, Fireflies in the Night, My Five Senses, What Lives in a Shell, and A Nest Full of Eggs.

Level 2 contains significantly more books and is more conceptual than Level 1. Examples of titles in Level 2 are Why Do Leaves Change Color?, Fossils: Tell of Long Ago, What Happens to Our Trash?, How Do Birds Find Their Way?, Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean, Volcanoes, How Do Apples Grow?, Forces Make Things Move, What Will the Weather Be?, and the latest title, Almost Gone: The World’s Rarest Animals.